Splint support



May 22, 1945. F. R. RUTHER 2,376,507

' SPLINT SUPPORT Filed Dec. 2, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INYENIJOR.

BY I fian lf/Flffier May 22, 19 5.

F. R. RUTHER SPLINT SUPPORT May 22, 1945. R. RUTHER 2,376,507

SPLINT SUPPORT Filed Dec. 2, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 & vx

Patented May 22, 1945 p S'PLINT SUPPORT 7 Frank R. Ruther, Whittier, Calif. Application December 2, 1942; Serial No. 467,583

This invention relates to splint supports.

. The general object of the invention is to pro- .Vide. a novel adjustable support for holding a splint which has been placed on a fractured limb 'in a desired position.

Amore specific object of the. invention is to provide a splint support provided with a novel means. permitting a splint to be held sired position.

additional object of the invention is to provide a splint support which is particularly, adapted for. mounting on the handles of a stretcher.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved articulated and extensible duplexsupport for a splint. i An additional object of my invention is to provide a splint support which may. be used with patients of any size.

A-further object of my invention is to pro vide a splint. support which will permit the transport of casualties from the field of accident to a receiving station or hospital in complete comfort,

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

in a (16-.

Fig. 1 isa front viewofa splint support embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the support; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the splint receiving arms;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged Fi Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5--5, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6-6, Fi l;

Fig. '7 is a front View showing my duplex splint support construction; a

Fig. 8 is a view similar to'Fig. 7 showing the duplex construction in adjusted position;

Fig, 9 is a side elevation showing. one of the coupling members;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the coupling member;

; Fig.11 is a section taken on line I l-l I, Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of a modified clamp;

Fig. 13 is a front view with parts broken away showing another preferred type of splint supp r a l r i l Fig. 14 is a section taken on line lL-M, Fig. .13, and l Fig. 15 is. a fragmentary side elevation showing a modified clamp. i

section taken on line 4- 6Claims. (cit-'92) Referring to the drawings hy reference characters I have shownmy invention as embodied in a splint supportwhich is indi cated generally at. I0. As shown the supportis adapted tobe mounted upon the handle ll of a stretcher.

The splint support includes a bracket l2, hav

ing a jaw 13 with a recessed portion l4 shown at the top of the jaw. The bracket includes a thumhscrew l5 which has ahead 16 rotatable thereon and the construction is such that when the thumbscrew l5 is rotated the head l6 will engage the stretcher handle i l to hold the splint support in place.

The bracket I2 atits upper extremityis provided with-a rounded boss I! whichhas a ser rated face 18 thereon. Theb os s I! is provided withathreaded aperture 19 which receives a threaded securing member 2|. The Y securing member has a shank 22 which includes a cylindrical portion. which rotatably supports a boss 22' on a link 23. The bossZfihas serrations 24 which match'the serrations. i8. on the boss H and the construction is such that when the threaded member}! is tightened the1ink2 3 will be held on thebracket l2 in the desired adjusted position The link 23 on the end remotefrom the boss 22' includes a second boss 24" which is .similar to the boss 22' and is provided with serrations 25. The.boss 24flengages a companion boss 26 of a columnmember. 26'. The boss 26 is serrated as-at 21 and is provided with a threaded aperture 28 which receives a second securing member 28 similar to the member 2| previously described. The column .member ZBincludes a tubular member 30 which is threaded at its lower end and engages threads 3| on the boss 26. The upper end of the tube is slitted asat 32 and provided with tapered threads 33 which are engaged by "similar threads 34 on a collar 35h A rod 35 telescopes in the tubular memberjfl and when the collar 35 is tightened the rod 36 is held in ad justed position. The rod'.36 is provided with a boss 3'l jwhich is held on acom panion boss 38 by securing member 39 similar to ,the parts previously described. "j The boss 38 has a splintsupport member or rod39. extending upwardly therefrom. This rod is exter nally threaded as at40 and isco'unter bored and internally threaded as at M. A threaded pin "is mounted in thethreadedbore 4| and has. a head 43fwhich engages a washer ,44. The pin (12 is arrangedin slots 45 in superimposed splintreceiving arms 46. These arms have/upward extending end portions '41 and have beyond the foot of the patient. This projecting 7 having a collar 35 fixed thereon. A threaded portion is grasped by the attendant in handling v a patient.

In the use of my device the bracket I2 is.

mounted on a suitable support as, for instance, the handle of a stretcher.

By manipulatingthe securing members 2|, 29 and 39 the colunm 26. is.

arranged in the proper position andthe collar 35 is released and the rod 36 moved so that it! is the correct. length. This adjustment is made by the attendant after he has seen the patient and noted. the patients size, etc. The lock nut 49 is then. released and." the splint receiving arms 46 are adjusted so that the projecting end of the splint may be best supported upon the splint receiving; arms.

The. lock nut isthen secured. After the arms 46have been arranged" in proper position. to receive the end of the splint the latter, designated 49a in Fig. 1, is. arranged upon one of the arms 46 and is secured in place by a suitable fastening. means such as astrap 49b. The strap is arranged to pass upon both sides ofth'e adjacent ear 48 so. that shifting of both the strap. and

splint isv avoided.

The construction of the bracket, link. column member, etc, allows practically universal adjustment of" the-splint receiving arms so that the splint can be adjustedto the most' advantageous position.

In Figs. '7 to 11. I. show my duplex support wherein a pair of members ID" are. employed upon the handles H of a stretcher. In using my duplex support the projecting end of one splint. is supported by one. of the members: l" and the projecting end of the other splintis supported by the other member" ID. The members Ill are similar in all respects to the members l0 previously described. except that the serrations I8, 24, etc., are preferably omitted and coupling members. 50 are arranged'between the bosses 31 and 38' (see Fig. 11).. Each coupling. member 50 includes an. eye portion 50a and an integral socket -portionllb. The eye portions .500. are arranged between the bosses 31' and 38., as shown, in Fig.

- 11 and are held in place by the securingmembers 3.9a; The upper socket members 5% receive tubular members 5| while the lower socketmembers. receive rods 52 which move in the tubular The free ends of the tubes 5|. are 0 members 5|. splitv after themanner shown in 6. and are tapered and receive threadedv collars 53, similar to the collars previously described, and the construction is such that by releasing the collars 5.3 the rods. 52 may be adjusted to various positions after which the collars 53 may be. tightened.

Thedup'lex construction provides a very rigid, easily .adjusted, splint support which permits splints tobe. securely held in many positions; one of thesev positions,.by way of example. is shown 'in Fig.. 8-Jbut this is. merely, typical of. the many positions the splint support'may assume.

In Fig. 12 I show. a. modification. of) the clamp.- ing means which. may beused in;place of the 36' moves in a tubular member 30', the latter fromi and. towards the end 6| by" means of a The jaw 62 has'an end which Opposite thumb screw 53'; moves in a slot 64 in the bracket 6|].

the jaw 62 I arrange a second jaw 65 which has an end slidable in'the slot 64. The jaw 65 is held in position by a thumb screw 66 which passes through the slot 64,

The jaw 65- supports a bracket 61 which in turn supports a link 68 and column member 69. The column member supports a rod 10 having a boss 1| thereon. The boss 1| supports a splint support arm.12. The. construction of the link: .68, column 69, etc., is similar to that previously described in connection with Figs. '7 to 1'1, inclusive. The boss however; is turned at right angles to the boss on the link'68 and in addition the boss 1| carries an integral ear 13 whichrotat ably supports a fitting 14. This fitting I4 is held in adjusted position by a securing member l5 similar to the securing member 2| and the fitting 14 supports a tubular member" similar to the tubular member 5| previously described. Also the link 68 supports a similar tubular. member 11. Themembers 16 and 11 when employed are used in connecting a pair of the splint support members. asdescribed. in'connection with Figs. 7

, may be secured to the stretcher rail alongside the body supporting portion of the stretcher.

From the foregoing description it will. be apparent that I have invented a novel splint support which can be economically manufactured and which is highly efiicient for its intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

1'. In a splint support. a bracket having a 'recess adapted to receive the handle'of a stretcher, adjustable clamping. means on the bracket for engaging a handle, said bracket having, a boss thereon, said boss havingza threaded aperture, a threaded member fitted. in. said aperture, alink having an apertured boss at each end, one of said link bosses being fitted on said threaded member,

said threaded member having shoulder; engaging I in column having a slit, tapered, threaded end a with. a threaded collar thereon, said collar, be ng adapted to releasab-ly'clamp saidrod" in said tubular column, an apertured boss on said rod, a I

member and having its end externally and internally threaded, a reduced headed pin on the internal threads of said splint support member rod, a pair of superimposed splint receiving arms having slots therein mounted onsaid pin and a locknut on the external threads of said splint support member rod and engaging the lower of said splint receiving arms.-

2. In a splint support a bracket, adjustable clamping means on the bracket adapted to engage a handle on a stretcher, said bracket having a boss thereon, said boss having a threaded aperture, a threaded member fitted in said aperture, a link having an. apertured boss at each end, one of said link boss apertures receiving said threaded member, a tubular column member having a fitting at one end thereof, saidyfitting having a threaded aperture therein, a second threaded member in said fitting aperture, the other link boss aperture receiving said second threaded member, a rod slidable in said tubular column, means to releasably clamp said rod in said tubular column, an apertured boss on said rod,

a splint support member rotatably mounted on said rod boss, a rod on said splint supportmember, a pair of superimposed splint receiving arms mounted on said splint support member rod and means to hold said arms in place;

3. In a splint support a bracket, adjustable clampingmeans on the bracket adapted to engage a handle on a stretcher, said bracket having a boss thereon, said boss having a threaded aperture, a threaded member fitted in said aperture, a link having an apertured boss at each,

end, one of said link boss apertures receiving ond threaded member in said fitting aperture,

the other link boss aperture receiving said second threaded member, a rod slidable in said tubular column, means to releasably clamp said rod in said tubular column, an apertured boss on said rod, a splint support member rotatably mounted on said rod boss, a threaded rod on said splint support member and having its end ex-, ternally and internall threaded, headed pin on the internal threads of said splint support member rod, a pair of superimposed splint receiving arms having slots therein mountedon said pin and a nut on the external threads of said splint support member rod and engaging the'lower of said splint receiving arms.

4. A splint support comprising a pair of lat erally spaced opposed brackets, clamping means on each bracket adapted to engage a handle on a reduced meansrespectively supporting" the column members on the other ends of the links, a rod slidable in each tubular column, means to releasably clamp each rod in its tubular column member, a splint support member rotatably mounted on each rod, a splint receiving arm mounted on each splint support member, means to hold'each splint receiving arm in place, an extensible link connecting one of said rods and the opposed supporting link and a second extensible link connecting the other rod and the other supporting link.

5. A splint support comprising a pair of laterally spaced opposed brackets, clamping means on each bracket adapted to engage a handle on a stretcher, each brackethaving a boss thereon, each boss having an aperture, a pairof links, releasable means in each of said apertures respectively supporting one end of theurespective links, a pair of tubular column members, means to support the column members on the other ends of the links, a rod slidable in each tubular column member, means to releasably clamp each rod in its tubular column member, a splint support member rotatably mounted oneach rod, a pair of superimposed splint receiving arms mounted on each splint support member, means to hold each pair of splint receiving arms in place, an, extensible link connecting the upper end of one of said rods and the lower end of the opposed supporting'link and a second extensible link connecting the upper end of the other rod and the lower end of the other supporting link, said extensible links being spaced from said splint receiving arms. i

6. A splint support comprising a pair of laterally spaced opposed brackets, clamping means on each bracket adapted to engage ahandle on a stretcher, each bracket having a boss thereon,

each boss having an aperture, a pair of links, means in each of said apertures respectively supporting one end of the respective links, a pair sible link connecting one of said rods and the porting link.

opposed supporting link and a second extensible link connecting the other rod and the other sup- FRANK R, RUTI-IER. 

